HYBRID SENSOR-ENABLED ELECTRIC WHEEL AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS, MULTI-HUB WHEEL SPOKING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLING WHEEL SPOKES

• US 20110133542A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Outram, Christine Louise, Ratti, Carlo, Biderman, Assaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,027,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/003 specially adapted for bicycles B60B1/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0276 the spoke being crooked in the middle and having double length
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/041 of bicycle wheels bicycle rims characterised by means for attaching spokes B60B21/062
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/042 Attaching spokes to hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2320/122 for spoke tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0068 the element being a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/023 specially adapted for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/114 Size
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/04 built-up of several main parts B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/061 characterised by the part of the wheels to which the discs, rings or the like are mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 : Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 : Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/411 : Torque sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 : Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 : characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 : power-driven at axle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 : with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 : characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/224 : Paging receivers with visible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 : Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 : at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 : using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49515 : Joining spokes to rim and hub

Abstract

Embodiments of hybrid sensor-enabled and autonomous electric wheels can include a plurality of systems and devices integrated into a single compact hub unit that can be retrofitted into numerous types of two-wheeled bicycles. In one embodiment, an electrically motorized bicycle wheel can include a wheel rim, a wheel hub having an electric motor, a battery pack and a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor, and a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub. The electric motor, the battery pack and the control unit can be positioned within the wheel hub of the electrically motorized bicycle wheel.

Claims

1. An electrically motorized, retrofitable vehicle wheel, comprising:

a motorized hub unit connected to a wheel rim; and

a mechanical coupling mechanism constructed and arranged to secure the motorized hub unit to a non-motorized wheeled vehicle.

2. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism is further constructed and arranged to wirelessly secure the motorized hub unit to a non-motorized wheeled vehicle.

3. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the non-motorized wheeled vehicle comprises a bicycle.

4. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the motorized hub unit comprises:

an electric motor;

a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor; and

a power source electrically connected to the control unit and the electric motor.

5. The wheel of claim 4, wherein the electric motor, the control unit and the power source are provided within an outer casing of the motorized hub unit.

6. The wheel of claim 4 further comprising a torque sensor configured to determine a torque applied to a sprocket of the motorized wheel hub, wherein the control unit adjusts a drive torque of the electric motor in response to the applied torque.

7. The wheel of claim 4 further, wherein the control unit adjusts a drive torque of the electric motor in response to a command signal wirelessly received from a wireless control unit or a cell phone.

8. An electrically motorized bicycle wheel, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a wheel hub, including;

an electric motor;

a battery pack; and

a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor; and

a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub,

wherein the electric motor, the battery pack and the control unit are positioned within the wheel hub.

9. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the electric motor comprises a frameless rotary motor.

15. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the battery pack is removable from the wheel hub.

16. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the wheel hub further includes a wheel hub gear system.

20. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 16, wherein the wheel hub gear system is partially positioned within the wheel hub.

34. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the plurality of wheel spokes comprises a first set of wheel spokes and a second set of wheel spokes.

35. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 34, wherein first and second ends of the wheel spokes of the first and second sets are connected to the wheel rim, a curved portion of each of the wheel spokes of the first set interface with curved spoke pockets on a first external side surface of the wheel hub, and a curved portion of each of the wheel spokes of the second set interface with curved spoke pockets on a second external side surface of the wheel hub.

36. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 35, wherein the wheel spokes of the first and second sets are alternately connected around an inner circumference of the wheel rim.

37. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the wheel hub further includes a removable battery cover.

39. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 8, wherein the wheel hub comprises a rotating unit and a static unit.

40. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 39, wherein the rotating unit rotates in relation to the wheel rim.

41. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 39, wherein the plurality of wheel spokes are connected to external side surfaces of the rotating unit.

42. The electrically motorized bicycle wheel of claim 39, wherein a stator of the electric motor is secured to the static unit.

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38. (canceled)

43-108. -108. (canceled)